Program preselecting and control apparatus



Dec. 3, 1946. F. H. OWENS PROGRAIvi PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet l N WH M Q mi MY TL L L m o n w m w n n Dec. 3, 1946. F. H. OWENS PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets-She et 2 INVENTOR FREEMAN H. OWENS BY 0 W ATI' Y 3, 1946. F. H. OWENS PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 FREEMAN H. OWENS PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets -Sheet 4 T 19.? m7 10H ,zo: 19 79 M 00 28 7 iii INVENTOR FREEMAN H. OWENS A MM Dec. 3, 1946. F. H. OWENS PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ulllL INVENTOR llt FEIREEMAN H. OWENS Dec. 3, 1946. F. H. OWENS PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS I Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR FREEMAN H. OWENS M," Q

F. H. OWENS 2,411,890

PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed y 10, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 l l I ll ll u U :1 L94 VUI 775 73?! E 5 Z3 24 K \ww if? m MIMQQ i r IIL 772? 770 J 769 L. J n 767 7.9.?

INVENTOR FREEMAN H. OWENS Dec. 3, 1946. I F. H. owENs PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 R O T N E v m FREEMAN H. OWENS BY MSW ATT RN EZY Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROGRAM PRESELECTING AND CONTROL APPARATU Freeman H. Owens, New York, N. Y.

Application July 10,

.6 Claims. a

The invention here disclosed. relates to appa 4 pi'eselectihg desired pr gress or seouehces and is a continuation iii. part of the in ention disclosed in rec-pending patent applica tion Ser. 397,504, filed June ltl, 1941, Patent No. 2,33 ,568, issued December 28, 1943.

Special objects Of this invention are to simplify and improve the program selecting and control mechanism, to construct it so far as possible of inexpensive duplicate parts, readily manufacturecl and easily assembled. and to provide in a small unit a wide range of program coverage.

Other, more specific objects are to provide a program control unit which will enable a user to express'an opinion of the program received or to express imiiviclual preference as by voting on questions submitted or then before the public; which will be capable of having its range of selection extended, if desirecl, to cover other than the usual or normal programs, for example. into the short wave, frequency modulation and other tiohs; which wil be accurate and reliable in its timing and which can be readily set for such operations as tuning and volume control.

Other desirable objects will appear as the specification proceeds.

The novel featuresand combinations through which the purposes of the invention are attainerl are set forth in the following specification, broadly coverezl iii the claims and illustrated way oi practical example in the accompanying drawloss. it is realized however, that actual :ohysical structure may be modified and changed in various all within the true spirit and broarl scope oi invention. The illustration therefore is to be cohsic ereci primarily for purposes cllsclosure and not by way or? limitation, the actual scope of the invention being as hereinafter broadalefinecl and claimed.

l is a front elevation of a preteriecl embodiment of the invention, portions of the lteys in the lower hahls being broken away to show time indications behind the same.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section l View or. substantially the plane of line 232 Fig. 2c is a sectional continuation of parts the top of Fig. 2.

3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view on substantially the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a broken end elevation partly in sectlon.

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged sections detail of 1942, Serial No. 450,449

CL ltll -l.)

- ave bands other than the usual broadcast sta- I one of the tuning, volume controlling: and switc units.

mg. Z is a part sectional detail of one oi t..e volume controls, this view taken on. substantially the plane of line l--l of F 6.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional detail oi the manual switches, on substantially the plane of line 3-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of switch parts shown in mg. 8.

10 is a broken face View of the switch con tacts.

ll is an enlarged detail of switch, parts appearing in section lill of Fig. 12.

12 is a broken side View of the time switch.

Fig. 13 is a broken sectional detail as on line iS-iS l2.

l4, l5, 15 are broken sectional details of one of the gang switch units for controlling set of radio circuits or the like.

Fig. l? is a broken plan of one of blanks from which the lzey supports are Fig. l8 a broken side view showing how the two parts or halves of the lsey support are assemblecl.

Figs. 1'9, 20, '21, 22 are enlarged horiso tal sec tlonal views oi the opinion recording key mechanisms .as on lines lfi lo, ill-2i and of Fig. t

Figs. 23, 24 and 25 are broken sectional cletalls as on the corresponding lines of Figs. 19 22%.

26 is a wiring diagram.

The embodiment oi the lhveiitio iilizs in l is designed to provide t1 tuned and volume-controllecl recs, eight different radio stations, opini record ng as to .rograms or othe; ext "isioh oi program selection to o the timing on line which might be eig". .t difi'etteht broadcast stations,

sci-l say six broadcast stations and two other frequencies such as short wave or z are designated. 3i, 31-, l

A bank of rotatable keys provide the trie for selecting the station orirequehcy which \T." be brought in at particular time a oncl bahl: oi lzeys GB provides control by which the radius of action may be extended, pie, to bring in other or tlifierent frequencies any selected time.

In the illustration there are eighty selector keys each group, one for each 15 minute broadcast period for the twenty. hours running from 6 o'clock in the morning until 2 o'clock at night, but there may be keys for the full twentyciated with the keys of the second group. A time interval scale 43, is shown in between the two banks where it can be read on either and both sets of keys.

Buttons for registering opinion and which may be designated. for instance, as good, fair and "poor are indicated at M, :85, 4t. and below those, "yes and no buttons 4?, 48, for voting on questions submitted by radio or otherwise.

A twenty-four hour day and night clock 39, is shown on the front of the instrument case 50, alon side the speaker opening 5i, said clock having a suitable setting button 52.

The manuals are indicated as consisting in each instance of a back knob 53, for tuning and a concentric front knob 54, which can be turned for volume control or operated as a push button to c ose circuits for the station selected by the tuning of that particular unit.

The selector keys are shown protected by a transparent cover 55 which if desired. may have a lock thus to prevent acc dental shifting or tampering with the selector keys.

Figs. 2, 2a show the cover hingedly connected with the case at the top, at 56.

In these views, the keys of both sets are shown as rotatably supported flat discs having projecting fingerholds 5?, circumferential teeth 58, switch key actuating lugs 59, and, at th inside, retainer teeth 60, for holding engagement by spring detents bi.

The supports for the keys are shown as consisting in each instance of a pair of strips 52, of sheet material haying the spring detents 6i, cut in the form of a comb, Fig. 1'7, and bent into semi-circular form Fig. 18, so that the lugs 63, partially severed and bent out therefrom will serve as spacers between the key discs.

These parts ar easily assembled by slipping one of the halves 62, of the support into position within a stack of the keys and then after registering the spacer lugs 63, between adjoining key discs, partially collapsing and inserting the other half of the support into position. and then after the lugs 63 of the same are registered with the spaces between the key discs, permitting it to spring back into semi-circular form and locating it in immediately opposed relation to the first half section, in the relation shown in Fig. 2. When the assembly is thus completed, the full bank of keys can be mounted by passing the lugs 66, on the ends of the supports through appropriate mounting slots 65, 3, in the end plates 68, of the frameor chassis.

The station and wave band selecting switches are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and i, as consisting of segments 6?, one for each time interval, located directly in line with the time keys and having one arcuateseries of spaced forwardly projecting contact lugs 67a, 68, 69, ill, ll, "l2, 73, M, 75, engageable by the contact fingers lea, l6, ll, ii,

J9, 30, 8!, 82. 83, and a second arcuate series of upwardly projecting contact lugs 86, 85, 86, 87, engageable by spring fingers 88, 8Q, 9t, 95. The pring fingers 15a, 16, etc., of the first set may be iormedas comb extensions on longitudinally ex-- tending bus bars designated 92, and individual to diflerent stations, except for the last bus bar at the bottom Fig. 2, designated 93, and providing an off contact. Similarly, the extra wave band switch fingers 88, etc., are shown as connected with and rorming'parts of .bus bars 94, for these particular wave bands.

Fig. 4 shows in particular how these switch parts may be supported in insulated relation by providing strips 95, of insulating material securedat 96, on the arcuate end supports 91, 98, with the contact lugs 61a, 58-45 and M-tl projecting through notches in the edges of these insulating strips and the station or wave band buses 92, 98 and 96, disposed over the outer faces of said strips and having securing portionstS, Fig. 2,

anchored through appropriately located slots or openings in such strips.

The time segments Bl are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as having terminals Hi0 connected by wires iill with terminal portions m2 of the time switch contacts we entered through radial slots Hi4 and held by a locking ring iota in a circular insulating support H in position for successive engagement by a spring brush m8; carried by arm lll'l, adjustably secured on shaft Hi8.

The shaft I08, rotates once every twenty-four hours and as indicated in Fig. 2, may be a rearward extension of the hour hand shaft of the clock and which latter is shown in this view as actuated by a synchronous clock motor we. The

, spring brush use, is shown in Fig. 2, as having a branch lit. in wi ing engagement with 9. current supply ring iii.

The hour shaft not, rotates continuously so as tocause the brush we, to slide over the time segments Hi3, and the brush is fixed on the shaft, by means of the adjustable clamp H2, so that it will snap from one segment to the next at an in termediate point in the broadcast period, that is, mak engagement with the contact for a succeeding period before the preceding period is completed, thus to set up the next time circuit in readiness to be closed at the instant of change from one period to another.

The closing of the time circuit is effected by an accurately operating timer in the form of a star wheel i i3, operated from the motor Hi9, and having one or more arms Mil, adapted to bridge the spaced insulated contacts H5, H8, Figs. 11, 12, at a definite instant in each revolution of said wheel. In the illustration, this wheel rotates The lug H20, projecting from the side of saidv rocker engages a lug iii, extended from the back of motor 569, to limit the extent ofswinging movement under the thrust of the spring, the rocker being free to swing in the opposite direction far enough for the contact closing arms to pass underneath and clear of the same.

The timer wheel H3, rotates continuously and as shown in Fig. 11, the arms l id, thereof will engage first the lower contact 5 it, and then, at Just one p int in the revolution of the wheel, engage contact H5, as well. Immediately after this bridging engagement of the two contacts, the arm HQ, thrusting on contact M5, will rock the contact flit, out of engagement with it. The

acinscc constantlyrotating star wheel in connection with the swinging contact carrier thus provides an accurate and reliable means for closing and then instantly breaking the time circuit at the start of each broadcast interval.

The time control circuits closed by the timer last described and the brush I66, include magnetic circuit closers determined by the selector keys 39 and 46. In the illustration, there is a solenoid I22, Figs. 2 and 3, for each of the stations or broadcast bands, having a core I23, connected at I24, with the lower endor a lever I25, pivoted on axis I26, and carrying spaced insulated plates I21, Figs. 14, 15, 16, in which are slidingly mounted spring pressed plungers I28, for bridging engagement with relatively fixed companion contacts I29. The lower ends oi! these levers are shown as inclined at I36, to slide over and engage behind the edge of a universal latch bar I3I, pivoted to rock on a center I32, Fig. 2. Thus the operation of any one of these magnets will effect the rocking of said universal bar to release a previously held circuit closer and to catch and interlock the lever of the actuated circuit closer.

Similar magnets I22a, through levers I25a, close circuits at mm, for the additional wave bands controlled by the upper set of keys 46.

In the present disclosure, a separate tuner is provided for each station hr wave band, leaving it necessary only to close required circuits for each selecting operation, but it is contemplated that a single tuner may be employed and selection accomplished, by adjustment of such a tuner. Also, it is realized that different kinds of tuners may be employed, such as capacity, permeabillty or inductance.

In the illustration, 9. permeability or inductance tuner is shown, in the form of one or more windings I33, wrapmd longitudinally about an insulating ring I34, of flat material into which a magnetic core I36, is adjustable by means of the tubular screw I36, Fig. 6, on which said core is mounted, said screw being connected with the tuning knob 53, and the core being held against rotation by being slotted at I31, to slide over the longitudinal guide strip I38.

The volume control is shown in Figs-6 and 7 as a pair of oppositely wound resistance coils I39, on a ring I46, of flat insulating material supported at the back of the tuning coil and engaged at the inside by rubbing contacts I, carried by the spring arch I42, on a split block I43, adjustably clamped on the spindle I44, carrying the center knob 54. A spring I45, i shown in Fig. 6, for thrusting this shaft assembly outwardly, so that knob 64, may be operated as a. push button for arbitrary control purposes.

The switch mechanism actuated in such push button operation of the knob 54, is shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 16, as a spring pressed contact button I46, positioned in line with the insulating bush- A reversely acting "on magnet I66, is provided, having a core I55, connected with the opposite end of rocker I52, and arranged to be energized at the start of a broadcast period when the selector key for that time is in one of the active positions.

The opinion expressing buttons 44, 45, 46, are shown in Fig. 4, as mounted on spring projected slides I56, I51, I58, the first carrying a contact I59, Fig. 19, to bridge the terminals I66, for closing a "good recording circuit, the second carrying contact "II, for bridging the terminals I62, of a fair recording circuit and the third carrying contact I63, for bridging terminals I64, of a "por recording circuit.

These opinion registering slides are interlocked so that only one can be operated at a time, the

ing I41, on the inner end of spindle I44, and

adapted when pressed inward to bridge contacts I48, I49, to close circuit through the solenoid I22, associated with that particular tuning unit.

An off" magnet I56, Fig. 3, connected with the lower, ofi bus bar 93 (Fig. 2) furnishes the power to turn the set of! when the selector keys 39, in the lower bank are in the off position at the time the control circuit is closed at the beginning of a broadcast period. The core I5I, of this solenoid is connected to one end of a rocker I52, carrying the mercury switch I53, in the main power circuit.

interlocking means consisting of a bar I65,'extending transversely across the three slides and having pins I66, I61, in reversely inclined slots I66, I69, in the upper and lower slides and a second transversely disposed bar I16, carrying a pin I1I, in the inclined cam slot I12, in the intermediate slide I51, these two bars being carried respectively by the parallel links I13, I13 and I14, I14, pivoted at I15 and yieldingly held centered in the neutral position shown in Fig. 4 by the spring strip I16 engaging the ends of the pivoted parallel links. The bar I65 is raised by engagement of the incline I63 with pin I66 when the top button is pressed, to carry the locking lug I11 thereon into holding engagement in the notch I18 in the lower edee of the middle slide I51 and lug I1 3a into notch I161) in the lower edge or the lower slide, thus to lock the middle and lower slides. Operation of the intermediate or fair button causes cam slot I12 through engagement with pin I11 to raise bar I16 and carry the lugs I19 and I191; into engagement with notches I36, IBM in the upper and lower slides, thus to lock both the latter. Operation of the lower slide I66, through cam slot I69 and pin I61 lowers the looking bar I 65 to carry lug I63 into engagement with notch 184 in the upper edge of the upper slide and lug I65 into notch I68 in the upper edge of the intermediate slide, thus to then lock the upper and intermediate slides.

The "yes and no voting buttons on slides I61, I68, carry contacts I69, I66, to bridge the terminals I9I, I92, of the yes and no" recording circuits and these slides are interlocked so that only one or the other can be operated during any one broadcast period. The interlock is shown as consisting of a triangular plate I93, pivoted at I94, and having lugs I95, I96, operating in notches I91, I98, in the respective slides, said plate being centered by spring I99, and a spring pressed latch 266, being pivoted at 26I, to snap into locking engagement into one or the other of the recesses 262, 263, in the slide I81.

When the upper, yes button 41, is pressed, the latch 266, will snap into the locking recess 262, and in such operation, the toggle plate I93, will project the no button. Conversely when the no button is operated, the toggle plate will project the "yes button slide and in that event, the locking recess 263, will be caught and held by the latch 266.

The voting buttons 41, 46, remain locked for the balance of the period in which one or the other has been operated, but are automatically released at the end of that period and the commeneement oi the next period by the so-called 15-minute magnet 264, Figs. 3 and 4, which receives an impulse from the closing of the time control circuit and has 7 206, with the spring latch 200.

a core 205, connected at The registering or recording is eifected in the present disclosure on a record strip 201, Figs. 2 and 26, driven in synchronism with the time gear train and perforated by discharges from electrodes connected in the opinion registering circuits and distinguishably located. in respect to said travelling record strip. In the illustration, the strip or tape is unwound from one spool 208, onto another spool or sprocket 209, passing over an idler or electrode roll 2m, beneath the various electrodes 2! i, for the various recording circuits. The tape may be printed to make it directly readable for time, stations'and expressed opinions, or it may be unprinted and simply run through a decoding machine after the manner disclosed in companion patent application, Ser. No. 423,129.

. The synchronous drive of the record strip is e'fiected in the illustration by a gear 282, Fig. 2, on the twenty-four hour shaft i 08, operating a gear 2 i3, on rearwardly extending shaft 2M, carrying a gear 2L5, in mesh with gear 2i6, on the take-up sprocket shaft 2 i l. The recording mechanism as indicated in this view may be a separate unit which can be readily applied to and detached from the main machine.

The various parts are compactly grouped, so as to leave ample space in the casing for radio tubes, speaker unit and other parts and connections. These may vary widely for the different kinds of circuits which may be employed and hence are not here illustrated.

Thesimplifled wiring diagram, Fig. 26, is reacl-v able from the foregoing. An off switch is indicated at2l8, Figs. 1 and 26, for control of the power transformer 2W supplying current to the magnets and other portions of the apparatus. This switch, however, it will be observed, does not affect the clock circuit. Thus at an time the unit may be turned oil and rendered inoperative without throwing the clock out of time and then whenever desired, the unit can be cut back into service by simply closing switch 258. A condenser is indicated at 226, for preventing sparking across the breaker points i it, i it, of the timer and this same condenser may be connected as indicated at 22L to furnish the discharge energy for making the recording perforations in the record strip. When the magnet 150, is energized, the mercury switch E53, will'be rocked to open the circuit 222, for primary 223, of the power transformer, 2W, also without afiecting connections :28, to the clock motor or the transformer 225, supplying energy'through connections 226 and 22F to the timer, the distributor or the circuit closer and other magnets and manual control buttons 5 3. The push buttons at and back connections 22?, 228, for the circuit closer magnets provide actuating connections which bridge about the connections normally provided by the distributor and time contacts, thus to enable closing of such circuits whenever desired regardless of the time.

The same arbitrary control of the circuits normally governed by the "A," "B," C2,? "D" keys as of the upper b is provided in-the 111113) record strip will carry a yes and then a "no" cuit closing operation of the star wheel timerv is advantageous in that the power circuit for operating the magnets is on only for sumcient time to efiect immediate operation of the magnets.

' And the leaving of this circuit open keeps the push button controls 54, always in condition to effect the closing of the circuit through any one of the selectors. The "on magnet I56, being in series with the selector magnets 22, automatically comes into operation each time one of the-selector circuits is closed, whether automatically or-manually. The electrodes 2, may lightly engage the surface of the tape riding over the roll 290, so as to insure proper discharge through the tape to form the indicating markings.

In the position of parts illustrated in Fig. 26, the distributor brush W6 has reached the "12 noon position thereby establishing connection between the current supply ring iii and the 12 noon contact 823. Assuming switch 282 closed and the 12 noon kev lever in the No. 1 station position, current will flow throu h Wire 226 and wire 23? to the No. 1 magnet E22 and wire 2% to the on magnet 55% and wire 239 to one side of the transformer secondary 26d and from the other side of that secondary across contacts iid, H5, ME oi the rotary timer and by wiring 226 to the current supply ring iii. The No. l magnet thereby energized will close circuits, as before described. necessary to bring in the No. 1 station.

At such time also the "15 minute" magnet 2261 is energized to release the voting buttons, this magnet being connected in parallel relation with magnets 822 and E56 by the wiring 239, 2M, 2%. In the present disclosure the keys lii in the upper bank are used to select different wave bands and the keys 89 in the lower bank to select stations in those wave bands or to turn the set ofi at predetermined times. In the illustration, Fig. 2, the handle 57 of one of the upper keys has been turned down to the lower, A position of Fig. 1, causing lug 59 of that key to close switch contact 28 against contact lug 81 or" the time representing contact segment 61 and the handle 5'? of a lower switch key 39 is standing in the upper. ofi? position with the lug 59 of that ke holding switch contact 83 in engagement with the contact lug 15 of contact segment 61, substantially as shown at the right in Fig. 3. This would mean that the tration by the switch buttons indicated at aza in Figs. 1 and 26.

Po-provide markings which will. indicate the beginning and ending of a'full day's record, the 8 a, m. and 4 a. m. contacts sec, 288 of the distributor are shown connected by wiring 232, 238 across the yes and "no button circuits. Thus at the end of each twenty-four hour interval, the

ofi" magnet I56, Figs. 3 and 26, would be energized at the time represented by this particular contact segment 67 to open switch 958 and prevent operation of the set at such time. The "A" position of the wave band selecting keys, as above pointed out, might be for broadcast, short wave, frequency modulation, television or the like, which would mean that in this particular example the stations. say in the broadcast (A) band, would be 03. The setting of the keys Mi to other wave band positions and the keys 3,9 to different station selecting positions would assure that some station selected in one of the four wave bands indicated would, in that instance, come on at that time represented'by this particular time contact 8?.

What is claimed is: 1. Program preselecting and control apparatus comprising a bank of contacts arranged each to represent a particular time, time control means for successively connecting said time representing contacts in circuit, a set of function selecting keys movable todiflerent function selecting positions and cooperable each with a particular one of said time representing contacts and a second set of different function selecting keys movable to difierent function selecting positions and cooperable each with a particular one of said time representing contacts and whereby the function selection for a particular time may be predetermined by the setting of a function selecting key in either one of said two sets of function selecting keys.

2. Program preselecting and control apparatus comprising a bank of contacts arranged each to represent a particular time, time control means for successively connecting said time representing contacts in circuit, a set of function selecting keys rotatably mounted each over one portion of a particular time representing contact and in cooperative relation with that contact, and a second set of difierent function selecting keys rotatably mounted each over a different portion of a particular time representing contact, in cooperative relation therewith, and whereby, the function selected for the time represented by any one of said time contacts may be predetermined by the rotative setting of one of the two function selecting keys cooperatively related to that particular time representing contact.

3. Program preselecting and control apparatus comprising a bank of contacts arranged each contact to represent a particular time, time control means for successively connecting said time representing contacts in circuit, a selecting key associated with each of said contacts and movable in relation thereto to different station selecting and off" positions, cooperative switch contacts for said different station and off positions of said keys, different station selecting magnets and an "off" magnet connected with the respective station selecting and off switch contacts and radio station receiving and cut-on? means controlled by said different station selecting and off magnets, respectively.

4; Program preselecting and control apparatus comprising a bank of contacts arranged each to represent a particular time, time control means for successively energizing said contacts, controi units for accomplishing the tuning in of different radio stations and volume control of the reception therefrom and including in each instance adjustable means for accomplishing tuning in a desired station, adjustable means for effecting volume control reception of that station, a magnet for automatically controlling said unit for station tuning and volume, control purposes and means enabling manual operation of said unit for station tuning and volume control purposes at any time independent of automatic operation, keys cooperative with said time representing contacts and each movable to different positions for accomand said off magnet and whereby said apparatus may be set up to automatically bring in any one of several different stations at desired volume control for that station or to shut off all stations, at different desired preselected times, or be manually arbitrarily operated at any time to bring in any one of said several stations at desired soundJevel or to shut 011 all stations.

5. Program preselecting and control apparatus comprising a bank of contacts arranged each to represent a particular time, time control means for successively energizing said contacts, switching means associated with each of said time representing contacts for efiecting wave band selection, switching means associated with each of said time representing contacts for efiecting selection of stations in different wave bands, keys cooperative with said wave band selective switch means and shiftable into different wave band selecting positions and keys associated with said station selecting switch means and shiftable into different station selecting positions, there being one of said wave band selecting keys and one of said station selecting keys for each of said time representing contacts and whereby a particular station in a particular wave band for a desired time may be selected through the medium of the two keys associated with the contact rep resenting that particular time.

6. Program preselecting and control apparatus comprising a bank of contacts arranged each to represent a particular time, time control means for successively energizing said contacts, switching means associated with each of said time representing contacts for efiecting wave band selection, switching means associated with each of said time representing contacts for effecting selection of stations in different wave bands, keys cooperative with said wave band selective switch means and shiftable into different wave band selecting positions and keys associated with said station selecting switch means and shiftable into difierent station selecting positions, there being one of said wave band selecting keys and one of said station selecting keys for each of said time represent- 

